The U.S. Virgin Islands attorney-general filed suit accusing Meta Platforms of profiting from scam advertisements on Facebook and Instagram and misleading the public about platform safety for children. The lawsuit cites internal documents that estimate billions in revenue from problematic ads and seeks penalties under consumer-protection laws.

The attorney-general of the U.S. Virgin Islands filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms alleging the company knowingly monetized scam advertisements across Facebook and Instagram while failing to enforce the safety policies it publicly promoted, particularly in relation to children. The complaint cites internal Meta documents claiming the firm derived billions of dollars in revenue from high-risk or problematic ads and argues that automated ad approval systems and weak enforcement enabled fraudulent actors to thrive. Plaintiffs seek consumer-protection penalties and reforms intended to curb dangerous ad practices and better protect minors exposed to predatory content. Meta has denied the allegations, saying it invests in safety measures and enforces policies. Legal analysts note the case could pressure regulators to demand greater transparency around ad review processes and revenue ties to third-party advertisers, and potentially spur further suits by other jurisdictions concerned about platform accountability and harms tied to online ads.